Proposed AR-15 Ammo Ban ‘Detrimental Especially’ for California

While the ATF’s proposed ban of M855 ammunition would hurt gun owners everywhere by taking away one of the most popular AR-15 rounds in the country, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) reports it would be “detrimental… especially” for Californians, where Governor Jerry Brown (D) has already signed a bill banning most traditional hunting ammo.

On October 11, 2013, Breitbart News reported that Brown signed AB711—a statewide ban on lead ammunition—into law. And that law magnifies the impact any future ATF ammo bans, including the M855 ban now under consideration.

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According to the NSSF, manufacturers “primarily intend” that M855 ammo be used “for sporting purpose(s).” But the ATF is approaching the ammo by focusing on “how criminals might misuse sporting ammunition in a handgun.” In so doing, they are poised to remove one of the increasingly limited “sporting ammunition” options still legal for Californians to purchase and use.

Besides the direct impact on gun owners, a ban on M855 would also strike a blow against hunting in California. And again, this is because of the limited ammo options Californians currently have because of the lead ammo ban already in place.